kliq

No he's not, he's a solid 2nd line guy capable of getting 60 points being paid 4.75mil, really not a bad contact at all. NOBODY is saying 2014 Nyquist is coming back, 2014 Nyquist at the pace he played between January and April was playing Hart Trophy caliber hockey and I dont think there is a single poster on the board that has ever said we will see that version of him again. I dont get why you are so over the top with him, he really is your new Franzen.

We lost that game and the hit was on Lydman. Not sure how that effected games days later.

If Sheahan is actually worth a 1st round pick, we need to protect him or we need to make the trade prior to the draft.

This post seems like a bit of a stretch in an effort to put down Howard. In 2013 the team blew a 3-1 lead, to say it was all on Howard is a bit of a stretch. He did have some bad games, but if I remember correctly Chicago simply outplayed us. 2014 he was injured, pretty sure he had a minor concussion. He didnt even play bad, first game got a shutout, 2nd game he did let in 4 goals, 3rd game let in 2. I remember someone skating into his head, and him having "flu like symptoms". Howard is a good goaltender, not a great goaltender. Like so many others, since he did not become elite he gets s*** on. Same thing is starting to happen to Mrazek.

I think the issue with Eichel is some tend to group him with McDavid which is really not fair as McDavid is on an entirely different level. Well that and the weird "Eichel Tower" nickname that some have coined for him that sounds more like a porno parody title then a hockey nickname.

I voted Toews, there is nobody IMO that gets put on a pedestal by media and fans like him. He is a very good player, treated like the cream of the crop, best of the best.

This is just speculation. Look, if you want to give a fair assessment about Ken Holland, it's this. Ken Holland is a GM who thrived in the pre-cap era. His best attributes are creating a culture that players love to be in, and never want to leave. In the non-cap era this worked out extremely well as with the exception of Fedorov he really didn't lose anyone he didn't want to lose. He let LaPointe walk, and obviously that didn't hurt us at all. Then there is Holland post-cap. Initially he thrived and put together likely the most impressive of all the teams he has put together (not based on skill of the team, based on skill of the GM to put it together). Though post 2009 that is where Holland started to fumble. While I do think hockey is a cyclical sport and no team can be good forever, after that 2008 cup/2009 cup run Holland lost touch with the cap and used the same philosophies that he used in the early 2000's that worked so well in an era where you have to have a different approach. Add that to the fact that we never got bad (ie had high draft picks) this downturn was inevitable. The Helm contract is the perfect example, I actually dont mind that contract in a bubble. I am happy Darren Helm is on this team, and the contract while I dont love it, really doesnt bother me. What bother's me is signing him to that contract while we also signed Nielsen longterm, signed Abby to 7 years, along with E, Kronwall, Howard etc. Because prior to the deadline most people were thinking something closer to a 4th round pick. Dont forget Smith is coming off of an injury and hasnt had the best season this year.

Not to mention with Weber being older, the real downside to this trade will be seen in about 2-3 years when Weber really begins to regress while PK is still in his prime. Unless they win a cup with Weber being one of their MVP's, this trade is a huge blunder by Montreal.

100% agree. Now that we got rid of Vanek, it would have been the perfect time to put Jurco on the 2nd or 3rd line and have him show us what he can do. Given his value, I think the return was good, but I would have given him one last shot, and that traded him in the off season. With that being said, I have to think there was more to the Jurco situation that we are not privy to.

lol! I've admitted that I am a GM before, this is why I empathize with Holland some times. I know what it's like to be given a direction by the owner that you don't even necessarily agree with, but have to sell it to people. It sucks.

Wow! This is truly the most pathetic post I have ever read lol. The funny thing is, I am not blue collar (I have said a million times on here I work for a business as a general manager) however I find it quite disgusting that you would use such an ignorant term as "blue collar stupid" as I am friends with plenty of blue collar individuals, and the assertion that they are all stupid is right up there with one of the dumbest things I have ever read on this board. You can claim to be "laughing" right now, but all of us "idiots" can see right through you, your NEED to constantly talk about your investments is sad and I don't believe a single thing you are saying. If anything I feel bad for you that you that your perception is so off that you feel like you are being picked on, nobody is picking on you, you are being a jerk and putting everybody down, now you are trying to take on the role as the "victim" which is an insult to anyone who is actually picked on or bullied. Here is my recommendation to you sonny, stop going on message boards to build yourself up to people you don't even know. If you are successful, its sad that you are seeking validation from us here on a hockey discussion board, if you are not successful, everything you are saying is so ironic that it is not even worth arguing with you anymore I dont believe this is true, but if this another account of Bills, damn you got me lol!

If this was a situation where our team was producing, but just Nyquist was not I would agree. But we have a team where EVERY single player minus Z and Vanek have regressed. Bring in the right coach, and IMO Nyquist will score 60 points. I dont want to lose him for nothing, or for some s***ty pick, IMO he has too much value. If he brings in a top 4 D-man, sure trade him, but you don't trade someone when their trade value is at an all time low. I would rather LV take E or Howard.

Grand Rapids is doing just fine. They are 35-16-1-2, and once again are in 1st place in the Central Division. There are some god kids down there. Granted there is likely no elite talent, but then again elite talent doesn't usually play in the AHL. As far as Top 6 forwards and Top 4 D, here are our best bets (from the AHL, not our system in general): Courtesy of http://www.hockeysfuture.com Robbie Russo Talent Analysis Russo is a very solid puck mover from the back end and is not afraid to use his body. He is also a great leader and a very hard worker. A free agent signee by the Red Wings after playing out his NCAA eligibility, Russo is a playmaker from the back end while playing a strong defensive game. Future Russo skated for Detroit AHL affiliate Grand Rapids in 2015-16, leading the team's defensemen in scoring as a rookie. Russo will push for a roster spot with the Red Wings in training camp in 2016-17 and projects as a middle pairing defenseman who can contribute to the attack and on the power play. Evgeny Svechnikov Talent Analysis Svechnikov’s greatest asset is his ability to find the open areas in the offensive zone; and, contributing to his offensive success, he also possesses quick, hard and accurate wrist and snap shots that often find the minimal open space opposing goaltenders allow. He’s a strong skater and, despite having limited experience playing on the smaller ice surface, is quickly becoming adjusted to the physicality of the North American game. He can often leave his defensive zone assignments unattended, but that’s something that should improve as he continues to get acclimated to the game on this side of the pond. Future Svechnikov signed a three-year entry level contract with Detroit in October 2015 after attending his first NHL training camp with the Red Wings. He returned to Cape Breton for his second QMJHL season with the Screaming Eagles in 2015-16 and was once again one of the team's leading scorers. A big, skilled winger with a nasty edge to his game, he could crack the lineup in Detroit in 2016-16 though he may start the year with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. Joe Hicketts Talent Analysis Hicketts is a short but solidly-built skating defensemen with elite offensive ability. Injuries during his junior career have created concerns about his durability and his lack of stature is sometimes an obstacle in the defensive game. His scoring ability and playmaking instincts are matched by few prospects in his age group. Future Hicketts returned to Victoria for his fourth WHL season in 2015-16 and played in his second World Junior Championship with Canada. A mobile puck mover who excels despite his lack of stature, Hicketts has dominated at the junior level and will look to have that same success when he begins his pro career next season. As with any player his size staying healthy will be a concern — he missed time both during the regular season and in the playoffs with the Royals — but Hicketts has the potential to be an exciting Torey Krug-type player at the next level. From NHL.com Hicketts is a 5-foot-8, 175-pound mobile defender who, at 20, has elite offensive ability, but his size is a question. Last season he completed a four-season junior career with Victoria of the Western Hockey League. The past two seasons combined, Hicketts had 20 goals and 125 points and was plus-55 in 121 regular-season games. He represented Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship the past two seasons. Hicketts is almost certain to begin the season with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. Because of his size, defense is a concern, but he could develop into a player in the Brian Rafalski/Torey Krug mold.

Anyone else see PK's return tonight? The crowd brought him to tears. I still can't believe the Canadians were stupid enough to make this trade.

That very well could be true, they do say actions speak louder then words. My gut tells me they just prefer Zetterberg-Nielsen up the middle for now, but who really knows. It's no secret Holland prefers vets over kids. I have never heard Holland actually say either were the future 1C or 2C of the team, but then again even if he did, I take anything coaches/GM's say to the media with a grain of salt.

That's what I want to find out. At the end of the day they are both listed, and were both drafted as center-man. Lets try them at that position, and if they can't cut it, transition them full time to the Wing. I guess my point is that this is the time to see what they can do. In all likelihood, one will be our 2C, the other will probably be traded or be moved to the Wing. I'm hoping 1C, but this year was not a promising one for Larkin as far as 1C is concerned. I would also like to see what they are capable of with a better coach.

Well Miller has no value as well lol. I would take Frk over either though, Pulkkinen I'm starting to think just isnt an NHL player. too one dimensional.

Going back and reading through this thread, its pretty funny how upset some people were with losing Pulkkinen and Frk through waivers. If you want to criticize Holland, cool, there are many moves he has made that are definitely worth debating good or bad. As far as these two being waived being a mistake, at this point it is not even debatable, they hold zero value, or at best "future considerations" lol.

Ya.....that first pairing spot for Smith is not going to last too long lol

There is no debate, right now Crosby is the best player in the world. I'm sure at some point McDavid will pass him, but that time has not happened yet.

He's not talking McDavid, he's talking the player that shall not be named.

lol, who's number one?

The other issue I am having, is we are clearly not making the playoffs. Is this not the time to let either AA or Larkin play center? If these two are supposed to be our future 1C/2C or 2C/3C, dont they need to actually play C? This is the time to experience growing pains when losing doesnt matter, if anything it actually helps us.

I agree we need to get rid of some players, but you know that not all players are going to be all stars right? If a guy like Nyquist can score 25-30 goals and get 60 points, that is solid production from a secondary scorer getting paid just over 4mil per year. The key is to mix high end talent with secondary scoring, the problem is that right now ALL we have is secondary scoring.

They put Sheahan on the 2nd line??? I really don't get the logic.